Moving to France also means learning to navigate a dense, varied, and sometimes a little confusing transport system! Between SNCF, Paris regional transport, the metro, the RER, and even the opening up to European competition, here's everything you need to know to get around easily.
SNCF: the backbone of French transport
SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français) is France's historic rail operator. It manages:
- TGVs (High-Speed Trains) connecting major French and European cities,
- Intercités, for journeys between regions,
- and TERs, regional trains widely used for daily commutes.
SNCF remains a global benchmark for high-speed networks: Paris–Lyon in two hours, Paris–Bordeaux in two hours fifteen, Paris–Lille in one hour… practical for professionals and impromptu weekends alike.
Opening up to competition: the arrival of Trenitalia and others
Since 2021, France has opened its network to competition, and Trenitalia was the first foreign company to offer high-speed journeys.
Its Frecciarossa trains connect Paris to Lyon, Chambéry, Turin, and Milan, often with attractive fares and a high level of comfort.
Other operators (such as Renfe or FlixTrain) are expected to follow, thus enriching the rail transport offering in France.
Île-de-France: metro, RER, and tramways
If you live or work in Paris, you will likely use the Île-de-France Mobilités Network, managed by RATP and SNCF. It includes:
- the Paris metro, one of the densest in the world with 14 lines and soon 18;
- the RER, a regional express network connecting the capital to the greater suburbs;
- tramways and buses, which effectively complement the transport offer.
Good to know: The Paris metro transports approximately 4 million passengers every day, and the Grand Paris Express, currently under construction, will eventually add 200 km of additional automatic lines to connect major economic and university hubs.
Other French cities with metro systems
Paris is not the only city to benefit from an underground network!
- Lyon has 4 modern metro lines, an efficient tramway, and a unique funicular in France.
- Marseille has 2 metro lines, with an expanding bus and tramway network.
- Toulouse offers 2 automatic lines (and a third under construction), praised for their speed.
- Lille was a pioneer with its VAL automatic metro, in service since the 1980s.
- Rennes also has 2 highly efficient metro lines.
Other cities like Nantes, Strasbourg, Montpellier, and Bordeaux instead rely on very efficient tramway networks, often integrated into soft mobility policies (bikes, electric buses, urban carpooling, etc.).
Sofime Immigration & Relocation advice
For your professional or daily commutes, we help you understand and choose the right subscriptions according to your situation: Navigo pass, TER subscriptions, or regional mobility passes.
